MYANMAR JUNTA SENTENCES AUNG SAN SUU KYI TO 5 YEARS IN JAIL FOR CORRUPTION

Aung San Suu Kyi, the former state counsellor and civilian leader of Myanmar, was found guilty of corruption by a court and sentenced to five years in jail, as per local media reports. The nobel prize winner 76-year-old leader was accused by the military leadership of accepting a bribe of US$ 600,000 in cash and gold bars. There are 11 corruption cases against her in the country and it is the first case where she has been sentenced. The hearing of the court was kept confidential by the authorities and the lawyers appearing for Suu Kyi were not allowed to talk with the journalists on this matter.

She has previously been sentenced to six years for breaching Covid rules and incitement against the military establishment. The leader is under house arrest since the military came to power and will remain further till all the cases are decided by courts.

Myanmar is witnessing unrest and a civil-war-like situation since a military takeover of the country in February last year that had sparked nationwide protests which had been crushed by the military. As per multiple reports, the military takeover had resulted in violent protests, widespread anger, and the coming up of People’s Defense Forces (PDF) to fight against the military which had led to the killing of more than 1,700 people and over 13,000 people have been arrested as the security forces have tried to curb the protests in the country.